Middle school orientation brings back the memories It wasn't so long ago, was it?

Neighbors/GLEN BURNIE

July 22, 1992|By Bonita Formwalt

Sometimes memories wash over your soul with gentle reminders of your youth, bringing a hint of a sweet smile to the corners of your mouth and perhaps a touch of dampness to your eyes.

Other times they hit you in the face like a wet sock.

The notice in the mail inviting me to sixth-grade orientation at my son's middle school had the latter effect on me.

Suddenly I was 12 years old, trying unsuccessfully to convince my mom that a private tutor was the only reasonable recourse to the discovery that I was the only normal person at Holabird Junior High School with "C" lunch. What kind of social development could they expect from me if I was forced to eat lunch with strangers on a daily basis?

At least whining and bemoaning over my lunch assignment kept my mind off the ridiculous gym suit the girls at my school were expected to wear -- a short, mustard yellow, shirtwaist dress with matching bloomers. Add to this ensemble, that my last name was printed in large block letters across the back of said bloomers and you're talking about the possibility of intense emotional scarring for a young girl.

Wandering the long expanse of halls, sniffing the air in search of the Home Ec cooking lab. (Please, please say we're not making scalloped potatoes again!!)

A male science teacher who wore bell-bottoms, a white belt and glasses like John Lennon's. The mortification of your first group shower. TWO locker combinations to remember (like anyone in their right mind is going to break into a smelly gym locker). It was new and exciting and scary all the same time.

It was wonderful.

When did we grow up, Glen Burnie?

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Parents and students ready (or almost ready) for the sixth grade at Marley Middle School are encouraged to attend one of several orientations scheduled over the next two weeks.

Pat Adkins, sixth-grade counselor at the school, will be joined by some former sixth-grade students to answer questions about the transition to middle school and to conduct a tour of the building.

Invitations with specific times have already been distributed through the mail. If your child is starting the sixth grade this fall and you have not yet received an invitation, call the school's guidance office, 761-0088.

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Kevin Riffle, head coach for the Glen Burnie Park Swim Club's Dolphins, will conduct swimming lessons for children age 2 and older at the swim club at Balyor and Everett roads. The lessons begin run Aug. 3-14.

Four different age and skill levels will be offered in the program.

Timid Tots is for children age 2 to 5 and will meet twice a week. The cost is $20.

Children age 3 to 5 who are a little more comfortable with the water can enroll in Water Tots. Classes meet three times a week and cost $30.

Classes for Beginners, ages 6 and up, and for Swimmers, ages 8 and up, will meet five times a week. Each class is $30.

All classes are open to the community. For exact times of each class or to register, call Riffle, 969-7238, or the swim club, 768-9867.

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Glen Burnie's summer concert series at the Arundel Center North Plaza comes to a close tomorrow night from 7 to 9 p.m., with the Top-40 sound of Skyline.

The Thursday night concerts have been brought to the community through the joint efforts of the Glen Burnie Improvement Association, Urban Renewal and the Division of Culture and the Arts.

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The start of school is just around the corner and along with the best prices on pencils, notebooks and new shoes, parents need to think about their children's preventive health care.

Students will not be permitted to begin kindergarten classes in the fall unless all of their immunizations are up to date. Also, students entering the sixth grade will need an additional booster to the mumps-measles-rubella vaccine.

The Glen Burnie Health Center, A Street and Fifth Avenue, is planning a special immunization program from 2 to 7 p.m., July 29. the clinic will offer general childhood immunizations, adult tetanus and pneumococcal vaccines for seniors.

Although there is no charge for the service, a $5 donation would be appreciated.

Information: 222-6633.

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"Adventures on Son Mountain" is the theme of this year's vacation Bible school at Harundale Presbyterian Church, 1020 Eastway. Classes are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Monday through Friday of next week.

Lorraine Ebert will be coordinating the activities of the session, which includes Bible lessons, storytelling, snacks and music. The Bible lessons will be taught by Christine Wolfe and Laura Richardson.

Children who will be age 3 by Dec. 31 up through students entering the sixth grade are welcome to attend.

Registrations are being taken following the Sunday worship service, or by calling Ebert at 761-1819.

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U.S. Rep. Tom McMillen will meet with residents of the 4th District from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday evening at the Calvary Temple, 649 Old Mill Road.

The meeting offers the community an opportunity to discuss the environment, the economy, health care concerns and crime.

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Letter and number recognition, developing social skills, and learning to write his or her name are some of the skills 4-year-olds can learn at Glen Lutheran Church's preschool. The Christian school is accepting registration for the 1992-1993 school year.

Jackie Cooligan will continue this fall as director of the program assisted by Bev George and Barbara Towers.

Classes will meet Monday through Friday, 9 to 11:30 a.m., adhering to the public school schedule. Tuition is $750 per year, payable in 10 monthly installments of $75 each.

Information: 766-6534.

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The rained-out softball game between employees of WJZ-TV and friends of the charity Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the ball fields at Point Pleasant Elementary School, 1035 Dumbarton Road.

Although admission is free, there will be a goodwill collection taken during the game and a cake will be raffled off.

All proceeds will benefit Guiding Eyes, a non-profit organization that trains guide dogs.